Laboratory clerk vs operations clerk

The differences between laboratory clerks and operations clerks can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a laboratory clerk and an operations clerk. Additionally, an operations clerk has an average salary of $33,746, which is higher than the $32,182 average annual salary of a laboratory clerk.

The top three skills for a laboratory clerk include patients, phlebotomy and lab specimens. The most important skills for an operations clerk are customer service, data entry functions, and computer system.

Laboratory clerk vs operations clerk overview

	Laboratory Clerk	Operations Clerk
Yearly salary	$32,182	$33,746
Hourly rate	$15.47	$16.22
Growth rate	-5%	-5%
Number of jobs	105,165	158,449
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 34%	Bachelor's Degree, 38%
Average age	47	47
Years of experience	2	2

What does a laboratory clerk do?

A laboratory clerk is responsible for a variety of tasks needed to process, report, and deliver laboratory tests and results. These include coordinating patient specimen collection, managing requests for laboratory tests, and adhering to laboratory safety rules and standards. As a laboratory clerk, you will be responsible for storing and retrieving copies of lab test reports. You must inform the lab supervisor about malfunctioning office equipment. In addition, you are also responsible for preparing and sending laboratory reports to physicians.

What does an operations clerk do?

An operations clerk is responsible for performing administrative and clerical duties, ensuring smooth business operations. Operations clerks often handle customer service, respond to customers' inquiries and concerns, and direct guests to appropriate departments. They also manage data entry tasks, update customers or employees' information to the database, create business reports, identify potential clients through cold calls and e-mails, sort and file documents, and monitor inventories. An operations clerk must have excellent time-management and organizational skills to follow office procedures and meet deadlines.

Laboratory clerk vs operations clerk salary

Laboratory clerks and operations clerks have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Laboratory Clerk	Operations Clerk
Average salary	$32,182	$33,746
Salary range	Between $15,000 And $65,000	Between $27,000 And $41,000
Highest paying City	-	Boston, MA
Highest paying state	-	Massachusetts
Best paying company	-	Ncar - The National Center For Atmospheric Research
Best paying industry	-	Manufacturing

Differences between laboratory clerk and operations clerk education

There are a few differences between a laboratory clerk and an operations clerk in terms of educational background:

	Laboratory Clerk	Operations Clerk
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 34%	Bachelor's Degree, 38%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	Western Carolina University

Laboratory clerk vs operations clerk demographics

Here are the differences between laboratory clerks' and operations clerks' demographics:

	Laboratory Clerk	Operations Clerk
Average age	47	47
Gender ratio	Male, 18.6% Female, 81.4%	Male, 31.7% Female, 68.3%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 10.6% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 20.0% Asian, 7.2% White, 56.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%	Black or African American, 10.3% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 19.5% Asian, 9.2% White, 55.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%
LGBT Percentage	6%	6%

Differences between laboratory clerk and operations clerk duties and responsibilities

Laboratory clerk example responsibilities.

Demonstrate strong math skills in managing inmate s accounts and calmly and effectively deescalating outbursts of belligerent inmates.
Train and follow strict HIPAA laws for protection of patient privacy.
Ensure patient safeguard, protection and comply to all company policies, procedures and HIPAA regulations
Process and organize patients' medical lab records and maintain records accuracy.
Confer with patients to obtain information for laboratory records, explain testing and addressed patient concerns.
Perform immunological, chemical, microbiological, and hematological tests, critically examine results for accuracy, troubleshoot discrepancies.

Show more

Operations clerk example responsibilities.

Demonstrate strong math skills in managing inmate s accounts and calmly and effectively deescalating outbursts of belligerent inmates.
Input global notes in CRT.
Retrieve documents to be send to the IRS.
Encode checks with 10 key hardware TRP or NCR machines.
Register patients in the HMS system.
Research case law using Internet and Westlaw software.

Show more

Laboratory clerk vs operations clerk skills

Common laboratory clerk skills

Patients, 32%
Phlebotomy, 10%
Lab Specimens, 6%
Computer System, 4%
Computer Data Entry, 4%
Medical Terminology, 4%

Common operations clerk skills

Customer Service, 25%
Data Entry Functions, 8%
Computer System, 7%
Payroll, 6%
Office Equipment, 4%
Provide Clerical Support, 4%

Laboratory Clerk vs. similar jobs

Laboratory Clerk related careers

Laboratory Clerk related jobs

What similar roles do

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse office and administrative jobs

A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z